Michael Carey shops senate run

Local advocate Michael Carey is seeking endorsements for a run for the 46th senate district seat held by Neil Breslin.

The head of the Jonathan Carey Foundation said he's meeting with leadership of the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties in hopes of securing nominations, but is waiting to formally announce.

I'm looking to run for that seat, I'm going through the vetting process and hoping to get multiple endorsements, he said.

"If there was a year for outsiders to run, this is the year," she said.

County GOP Chairman John Graziano, Sr., said the committee will be vetting candidates in coming days and will likely issue endorsements before the month is up.

"We have a couple of people who have expressed interest down there," he said of local candidates.

Carey has headed up the Jonathan Carey Foundation since his autistic son died while in the care of state caretakers in early 2007. Since then, he's worked to pass several pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of the disabled. The foundation continues to work to advance other bills.

Carey said he would not be a one-issue candidate, though.

"I feel I can serve the people of Albany County and New York State with excellence and integrity," he said. "The issue is really seeing the peoples' heart, seeing the need, and fighting for what's right for them... I've got a heart to fight for people, young and old, disabled or not."

Breslin, a Democrat who's held his seat for over a decade, is facing a primary challenge from former governor counsel office staffer Luke Martland and Tim Carney.""